Eat, Pray, Laugh - Barry Humphries' Farewell Tour
Opera House, Manchester
Runs until Saturday

IT's incredible to realise that Barry Humphries, and by extension his most popular characters Dame Edna Everage and Sir Les Patterson, are now 80 years old.

"Seniors", as Melbourne's most famous housewife-turned-megastar might describe them.

It is all the more remarkable when you see him in action live on stage for the best part of two-and-a-half hours, still as energetic and sharp of mind as ever.

This show, as its title indicates, is a UK-wide curtain call for Humphries' alter egos.

I first saw him in on stage in Manchester in the late 1980s, and he has certainly lost none of his rapier wit, skill with the English language or power to shock - and most importantly make an audience laugh.

The revolting Sir Les, Australia's cultural attaché, who is about as hilariously uncultured as it is possible to be, takes centre stage (and no prisoners) in the show's first half.

Humphries' saddest character, an insular, but touching old man, Sandy Stone, delivers a delicious monologue, skilfully tightrope walking between belly laughs and tragedy.

But the evening, as ever, belongs to Humphries' most famous and popular creation, Dame Edna, who spends most of the time ad libbing with terrified members of the front row audience (she doesn't like to interact with the "paupers" in the gods).

This "conversation" with her lowly fans, as she berates their looks and dress sense cruelly but meant in the most "caring and loving way", takes tremendous skill and a razor sharp mind. 

Humphries thankfully still possesses both.

The most touching moment of the evening, however, was after Edna, Les and Sandy had vacated the Opera House stage.

Up rose the curtain and out sauntered Humphries in his trademark black Homburg, for once unprotected by flamboyant or outrageous alter egos.

He looked genuinely moved as he thanked an audience that had risen to its feet to applaud - and say goodbye to - a brilliant and unique entertainer.

Humphries told them how much Manchester meant to him, as it was the city where his great-grandfather had been born in 1888.

It looks likely this WILL be his last live UK tour featuring the grand old Dame, but he couldn't resist teasing us at the end when he said: "Before I go promise me that whatever you do, every last one of you will come to see my next farewell tour."